Lake and River Swimming Safety (2024)

FAQs

Is it safe to swim in rivers and lakes? ›

Swimming Safely in Lakes, Rivers & Streams

Learn what to do. Be sure you are water competent for natural environments before swimming – this is not your home pool! Always enter unknown or shallow water feet first. Watch out for currents, waves, and underwater obstructions – they're not just found in the ocean.

For example, swimming use in lakes is most likely to be impaired by poor water clarity caused either by too much algae or suspended material in the water column. In rivers, however, high levels of indicator bacteria are the most commonly – in fact, the only – reported cause of impairment of swimming use.

The best way to determine if a body of water is safe and the risk of water borne illness is low is to sample the water and check for Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. E. coli is commonly found in the intestines of humans and other mammals.

Avoid swimming alone – always have a buddy. Check the water temperature and weather before entering the water. Wear water shoes to protect your feet from rocks and other hazards. Avoid swimming in murky water or near algae blooms.

Although it's unpleasant to think about, animal and human waste are often contributors. Human sewage and animal waste and manure contain fecal coliform bacteria and e-coli bacteria types that make water unsafe for swimming.

Mineral, structured, and pure spring water are some of the healthiest water you can drink because they're clean and contain all the essential minerals your body needs. Filtered water removes contaminants but might also remove essential minerals.

Bacteria are small, single-celled organisms that are found on every continent and in almost every habitat, from rivers and oceans to soils and mountains. Bacteria even live on and inside other animals, like us humans.

Boil. If you don't have safe bottled water, you should boil your water to make it safe to drink. Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing germs, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. adding a pinch of salt for each quart or liter of boiled water.

Swimming while ill can easily contaminate the water – even if you don't have an accident. Also, lakes and rivers can be contaminated by animal waste, sewage spills, and water runoff following rainfall. If you swallow water that has been contaminated, you may become sick.

There are many ways to know if your lake or pond needs water quality testing. A few examples include the presence of algae, dead fish, lack of wildlife and plant life, poor water clarity and murky or cloudy water surfaces.

Which water body is the most safe for swimming? ›

Where Is It Safe to Swim? Swimming in lakes, rivers and oceans can be safe and fun at a designated swimming area that is protected by lifeguards. However, if these elements are not in place, always assume that any natural body of water is too dangerous for swimming.

But there can be more danger in these Great Lakes waves than what you'd find in the ocean. The Great Lakes are more than capable of generating waves over 10 feet high, despite being smaller than our oceans. This lack in size actually increases the danger over the water.

YES - here in oregon/washington/california there are many fresh water lakes that are swimmable, and there are designated areas for swimming. but its probably do-able between june - sept. other wise the water is too cold for swimming. the advantage to that is: NO alligators, water is usually clean enough to swim.

E. coli levels at designated swimming beaches should not exceed 88 per 100 milliliter (mL) in any one sample, or exceed a three-sample geometric mean average over a 60-day period of 47/100 mL. Recreational waters that are not designated beaches should not have more than 406 E.

Limited visibility, underwater obstructions, hazardous wildlife, and potentially remote locations are some of the many challenges for river divers.